Fall River woman jumps from moving car

A Fall River woman may have saved her own life by jumping out of a car as it exited Route 24.

Freetown police spokesman Lt. Walter Sawicki said police received a call at approximately 6:18 a.m. Wednesday from a motorist who had picked up a woman that was trying to flag down cars on the highway.

Sawicki said the woman, who was not identified by Freetown or Fall River police, told police that she was taken from apartment at 22J Rolling Greens earlier in the morning by her estranged husband, who police identified as 38-year-old Peter Duval.

He was arrested by police later in the day.

Duval forced the woman to drive, Sawicki said, the two were traveling out of Fall River when at some point the man managed to pull her from the driver’s seat and into the back seat of the vehicle.

Along the way, Sawicki said the woman “came to believe his intention was to kill her.”

The vehicle then began to slow down as the man prepared to take exit 10 onto North Main Street in Freetown. At that point, Sawicki said the woman “made the decision that ‘this is my chance,’” opened the rear passenger door and began to slide out the opening.

Sawicki said the man then attempted to reach back and keep her in the car, but the woman was able to break his grasp.

“She got up and began running up the highway flagging cars and the husband took off and was last known traveling north on Route 24,” Sawicki said.

Sgt. Thomas Mauretti, Fall River police spokesman, said that after the woman talked with Freetown and state police they were informed that Duval also made a threat to harm her daughter. He said police responded to the apartment and located the 14-year-old girl, relocating her to a safe location.

Mauretti said the woman later told Fall River police officer William Lynch that the couple had been married for 20 days. She said Duval was allowed into the apartment before he became violent and forced her into the vehicle.

The victim was eventually taken to Charlton Memorial Hospital where she was treated for minor injuries.

Police continued to investigate and secured warrants for Duval’s arrest.

At about 7:45 p.m., police apprehended him in the plaza near the President Avenue rotary.

Lt. Michael Pleiss said police got a tip on Duval’s whereabouts from a security guard.

“He was arrested without incident,” Pleiss said.

Duval is charged with kidnapping, assault and battery, assault and assault to murder.

E-mail Will Richmond at wrichmond@heraldnews.com and John Moss at jmoss@heraldnews.com.